Howard minister met Burke

A HOWARD Government minister last night admitted he met the
disgraced former West Australian premier Brian Burke last year,
undermining the Coalition's ferocious attack on the Labor leader,
Kevin Rudd, for meeting Mr Burke.

The admission by the Minister for Human Services, Ian Campbell,
came a day after Treasurer Peter Costello said anyone who dealt
with Mr Burke would be "morally and politically compromised".

Mr Campbell told the Prime Minister's office about his meeting
with Mr Burke yesterday, as the Government intensified its attack
on Mr Rudd, accusing him of lying.

Senator Campbell said Mr Burke's business partner, Julian Grill,
asked for a meeting, on behalf of the Western Australian Turf Club,
to discuss a plan to build an indigenous cultural centre at a club
redevelopment project. The senator was then environment
minister.

The day before the June 8 meeting, Mr Grill's staff had called
to say Mr Grill could not make it. Mr Burke turned up instead.

"The meeting lasted 20 minutes," said Senator Campbell. "They
showed me some plans. I said it sounded like a nice idea."

But he had told them the Commonwealth did not normally fund such
projects. "I didn't deal with Burke. I was dealing with the WA Turf
Club. I couldn't understand why Burke was there. He was just a
blow-in."

In Parliament on Thursday, Mr Howard said he was not aware of
any commercial dealings between government members and Mr Burke.
"If that is wrong, I will find out very quickly."